Dead Movie Stars

Anna Nicole Smith, pictured on the set of “Illegal Aliens,” died in February 2007 of an accidental drug overdose at the age of 39. Her final film “Illegal Aliens,” was released in May 2007.

IA Fim Profiteers

Bernie Mac, Isaac Hayes and Samuel L. Jackson on the set of “Soul Men” in 2008. Bernie had three posthumous films come out after he died of complications from pneumonia in 2008—”Soul Men,” “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” and “Old Dogs.”

Doug Hyun/Dimension Films

John Candy died in his sleep after suffering a heart attack in March 1994 at the age of 43. His final film, “Canadian Bacon,” was released in September 1995.

Everett Collection

Oscar-nominated actress Jill Clayburgh (left), who played Kristen Wiig’s “Bridesmaids” mom, passed away from leukemia in November 2010, seven months before the movie hit the theaters.

Universal Studios

Christopher Walken and Natalie Wood filming “Brainstorm.” Wood was found dead in the ocean in November 1981 after a night of celebrating on a boat trip to Catalina Island. She hadn’t yet completed all her scenes in the film “Brainstorm” and had to have look-alikes complete her work. The movie was released two years later, in the fall of 1983.

MGM/Everett Collection

Chris Farley, seen here in “Tommy Boy,” passed away in December 1997 from a drug overdose at the age of 33. His final films, “Almost Heroes” and “Dirty Work,” were released in May and June 2008.

Paramount Films

Tupac Shakur died in a hail of bullets on a busy street near the Las Vegas Strip on September 1996. His crime drama “Gridlock’d” was released in January of the following year.

AP Photo

Brandon Lee, like his father Bruce Lee, died tragically at the age of 28 while filming his last movie, “The Crow,” in March 1993. The accidental shooting happened during a scene in which Lee’s costar was supposed to fire blank bullets at Lee. Instead, a fragment of a real bullet that was lodged in the gun ended up killing Lee.

Miramax Films

The legendary martial artist Bruce Lee died at the age of 32 in July 1973 in what was ruled a “death by misadventure.” Just six days after his death, one of his final completed films, “Enter the Dragon,” was released.

Everett Collection

Aaliyah portrays Queen Akasha, the mother of all Vampires, in a scene from “Queen of the Damned.” Aaliyah died in a plane crash just six months before “Queen of the Damned” was released.

REUTERS

Whitney Houston sings in a scene from “Sparkle.” Houston passed away from accidental drowning in February 2012 at the age of 48, six months before her final film, “Sparkle,” hit theaters.

Sony TriStar Pictures

Heath Ledger as The Joker in a scene from “The Dark Knight.” Ledger died from an accidental drug overdose in January 2008, seven months before “The Dark Knight,” which would win him a Oscar, hit theaters. Ledger was also working on “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus,” which premiered more than a year after his death.

Warner Bros

River Phoenix died at the age of 23 from a heroin and cocaine overdose at the Hollywood nightclub The Viper Room in October 1993. His last film “Silent Tongue” was released in February 1994.

Vidmark Entertainment

Phil Hartman died following a heated domestic dispute in May 1998. His last movie “Small Soldiers” was released in July of the same year.

ALAN LEVENSON/NBC

James Dean, pictured on the set of “Rebel Witout a Cause,” which was released less than a month after Dean was killed on a car accident in September 1955.

Everett Collection

Marilyn Monroe poses for a makeup test shot from her 1962 unreleased and unseen final film “Something’s Got To Give.” Monroe was found dead at the age of 36 in August 1962, spurring countless conspiracy theories. Footage from her last, unfinished film “Something’s Got to Give” was later released via documentary.

REUTERS

Clark Gable, the legendary “Gone With the Wind” star, died in November 1960 after suffering a heart attack at the age of 59. He had recently finished filming “The Misfits” alongside Marilyn Monroe. The film came out in July 1961, a year after his death.

Everett Collection

Jean Harlow died at the age of 26 from renal failure in June 1937. “Saratoga,” a collaboration between Harlow and Clark Gable, was released in July.